Marburg virus in Tanzania: end of outbreak
19 Mar 2025
On 13 March 2025, Tanzania declared the end of the Marburg virus disease outbreak in Kagera region that was first reported on 20 January 2025. There had been no new cases over 42 days since the death of the last confirmed case on 28 January 2025.
In total, there were 8 probable and 2 confirmed cases, all of whom died.
Advice for Travellers
Marburg virus disease is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF), similar to Ebola. The virus is found in African fruit bats and can be passed to people when they have contact with these bats, or the caves/mines in which they live. People can also be infected from contact with people, or monkeys or apes with Marburg virus disease. There is no specific treatment for Marburg virus disease and there no vaccine to prevent it.
In general, the risk to travellers becoming infected or developing Marburg virus disease is extremely low. However:
- If you are travelling to a known Marburg outbreak area, you must be aware of the risk of infection and transmission routes of Marburg virus.
- Medical personnel travelling to work in an outbreak region must follow strict infection prevention control guidance.
If you return home from a Marburg outbreak area, you should seek rapid medical attention by contacting NHS 24 (Scotland) or NHS 111 (rest of UK) for advice prior to attending UK medical facilities if you develop a high temperature (fever) and have:
- returned to the UK within 21 days from a region or area where there is an outbreak of Marburg Virus Disease
- had contact with people infected with a VHF
The UKHSA Returning Workers Scheme has now been stood down for travellers to this outbreak area.
For further information, see the fitfortravel Viral Haemorrhagic Fever page.